Investigation of osteochondrosis in grazing beef cattle

Severe lameness attributed to osteochondrosis is described in an extensively managed Brahman herd grazing on improved native pasture. Clinical signs were observed in five animals, three of which were necropsied. The most prominent lesions were in the elbow and stifle joints. There was multiple fissuring and ulceration of thickened articular cartilage with numerous osteochondral bodies present in the joint spaces. All affected animals were entire males sharing a common ancestral sire. Inheritance and gender were suspected to be contributing factors in the development of the disease.     

A Competitive Dipstick Enzyme Immunoassay for Diagnosis of Early Pregnancy in Bovine

Early pregnancy diagnosis in bovines is one of the important aspects in efficient dairy farm management. In order to develop a competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) employing low cost reagents, anti‐progesterone antiserum and progesterone‐penicillinase enzyme conjugate were prepared. Using this anti‐serum and conjugate along with pencillinV–starch–iodine substrate system, the competitive EIA was standardized. In the experiment, danazol, a weak androgen used to extract the progesterone bound to proteins in milk, was included after standardizing the optimum concentration. Incubation period and temperature and pH of the reaction mixture were also optimized. The developed test was validated with milk samples obtained from dairy farm and individual animal owners. Confirmation of the pregnancy was made by per rectum examination of the genital tract around 60 days post‐insemination. The user friendly test procedure showed sensitivity and specificity of 83.3% and 87.5%, respectively as compared with residual binding method which was earlier developed in the laboratory with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 87.5% respectively.     

Coupling of the TCR to integrin activation by Slap-130/Fyb

SLAP-130/Fyb (SLP-76-associated phosphoprotein or Fyn-binding protein; also known as Fyb/Slap) is a hematopoietic-specific adapter, which associates with and modulates function of SH2-containing leukocyte phosphoprotein of 76 kilodaltons (SLP-76). T cells from mice lacking SLAP-130/Fyb show markedly impaired proliferation following CD3 engagement. In addition, the T cell receptor (TCR) in SLAP-130/Fyb mutant cells fails to enhance integrin-dependent adhesion. Although TCR-induced actin polymerization is normal, TCR-stimulated clustering of the integrin LFA-1 is defective in SLAP-130/Fyb-deficient cells. These data indicate that SLAP-130/Fyb is important for coupling TCR-mediated actin cytoskeletal rearrangement with activation of integrin function, and for T cells to respond fully to activating signals.